Whitecaps Men Draw 1:1 And Women Lose 3:0

June 23, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release


Vancouver Whitecaps men recorded their second draw of the 2008 USL First Division season after a 1-1 home result with Miami FC Blues on Sunday night.

Chris Pozniak's first-ever Whitecaps goal canceled out Juan Pablo Galavis' first-half strike for the Blues in what was a pulsating USL-1 encounter at Swangard Stadium.

While the home side looked to take the initiative to their south Florida visitors throughout the contest, Miami showed real potency on the counter-attack, and could have considered themselves unfortunate not to claim all three points from the away encounter.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made four changes to the side that fell 2-0 away to Montreal Impact in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship last Tuesday. Fresh back from FIFA World Cup qualifying duty with the Canadian national team, captain Adrian Cann made his first start in nearly a month, as he replaced Omar Jarun in the centre of the Vancouver back-line. Diaz Kambere also returned to the starting XI for Takashi Hirano at left fullback, while Tony Donatelli replaced the suspended Alfredo Valente in midfield. In attack, Eduardo Sebrango was also back in the starting line-up, as he replaced youngster Nick Webb.

The big surprise on Sunday was the number of changes that Miami head coach Zinho made for their visit to Vancouver, as the 1994 Brazilian World Cup winner brought in nine new players to face the Whitecaps following Friday's 0-0 draw at Seattle Sounders. Despite not conceding a goal in six straight league games, Miami goalkeeper Josh Saunders made way for former Toronto FC and Chivas USA shot-stopper Sam Reynolds on Sunday. Only centre back Cristiano Dias and midfielder Jarryd Goldberg made Miami's starting XI after the pair each played 90 minutes in Seattle.

Complete men's match report: www.whitecapsfc.com/schedule/match06220805.aspx

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC WOMEN

Vancouver Whitecaps women fell 3-0 to the powerful Pali Blues Sunday night as the expansion side from Los Angeles showed why they are a force to be reckoned with in the W-League.

The Whitecaps' patchwork line-up, still missing 20 players to international duty, contained the visitors in the first half. However, a goal three minutes after the break by American international India Trotter changed the game's complexion, with the Blues going on to add two more. This was first time in team history that the Whitecaps have been shut out at home, breaking a run of 56 games over eight seasons.

Whitecaps interim head coach Marc Rizzardo made two changes from the starting eleven that lost 4-0 away to Pali last Sunday, with Selenia Iacchelli returning to midfield while 19-year-old forward Mallory Outerbridge was given her first start.

Pali fashioned a couple of good chances in the opening minutes, as top-scorer Danesha Adams twice got the ball in close to the right of goal, and twice tried to blast it past Sian Bagshawe on the short side, but the veteran keeper stood her ground and blocked the shots.

On minute 23, India Trotter got behind the Vancouver defence and was in alone, but Bagshawe came out quickly and smothered the ball when the striker pushed it too far ahead.

Two minutes later, Vancouver defender Katrin Schmidt had the home side's best chance of the half as she broke in just to the left of goal, but was in too tight and Pali goalkeeper Valerie Henderson made the stop.



USL First Division Stories from June 23, 2008


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